“Kamila, you need to fucking say something.” Dave gets off the bed to put his boxers on before sitting back down. His blue eyes darken, and when I don’t respond, his face begins turning into a disturbing shade of crimson.
My body tenses while I take in his reaction. My mind is going into survival mode.
“Dave, we set our boundaries back in December. That was two weeks before we started sleeping together. You knew this was never going to be exclusive.” My tone is sweet and delicate, not wanting to aggravate him further. “We agreed that if either of us started to develop feelings for the other, we should let the other know so we could end things there and then. I’m so sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, but I amnotin love with you.”
He stares at me and slowly rises while cracking his neck. I cringe at the sound and put some distance between us by scooting back to the headboard.
“You fucking bitch,” he grits out.
“Excuse me?” My question comes out with a surprised squeak.
His lips curl. “You are such a slut. I should’ve known better than to sleep with you. You’ll open your legs for anyone!” he yells.
The knot already forming in the pit of my stomach grows with the sinking feeling that this is going to keep escalating.
I lower the volume in my voice, hoping my words won’t provoke him any further.
“Dave, I have been open about being non-monogamous. What are you?—”
“Stop!” he shouts so loudly that it echoes off the walls in my room. “You don’t get to call me Dave, only my friends do. It’s David, and I don’t want to hear your lame excuses. We’ve been fucking for almost three months now. What did you expect to happen? I thought you were smart enough to see how great of a catch I am.” He starts pacing the room, and I just stare at him, my heart beating rapidly against my chest. “You think you can do better than me, Kamila?” He leans over the bed, inches away from my face. “I am the best, baby. You’ll never find anyone who can make you feel the way I do.” He straightens. “Nobody will ever really love you. You’re just a mediocre fuck.”
I flinch at his words.
How did I not realize how awful he was until now?
My bedroom door opens, and Emma peeks her head in, looking around the room.
“What’s going on here?” Her voice is casual yet calculated.
When David doesn’t respond, the door swings open, revealing what she has in hand.
“Hey, asshole,” she says sternly.
David still doesn’t move.
Em continues, “Get up, back away from her, and leave our suite. I will hurt you if it comes to that, David, so please make it easier for both of us and get the hell out.”
David slowly gets off the bed and turns to the door. He finally spots the metal bat and pepper spray in Emma’s hands. His eyes widen for a second before he quickly composes himself.
He shrugs. “Fine. Whatever. I already said everything I needed to.”
Em stands by the door, not taking her eyes off David while he finishes getting dressed. He turns to me one last time and shootsme an evil grin, the cold look sending chills down my spine. “Bye, Kamila.”
My roommate catches his attention. “Keep on moving, Dave.”
She follows him to our front door, which can be seen from my room. The clicking sound of the lock echoes, and I let out a deep, shaky, relieved breath.
Suddenly, I feel arms wrap around me, and I stiffen before leaning into my best friend's touch, silently thanking her for coming to my rescue.
“I’m so sorry, Kami. He’s a creepy, good-for-nothing douchey sexist asshole.”
I laugh despite the situation while my involuntary shaking starts to dissipate.
Something wet falls onto my lap. It’s then I realize that I’m crying. Only one other man has ever made me cry, and I’ve avoided that kind of pain ever since.
“I should’ve done more, but I froze, Em.”
She frowns. “Don’t go there, Kami. It is not your fault. You did what you needed to do, and you’re safe now.”
